Muhammad Hussain Janjua

Sowar Muhammad Hussain Janjua was born in Janjua family of Dhok Pir Bakhsh (now Dhok Muhammad Hussain Janjua named after him in commemoration of his Gallantry) near Jatli in Gujar Khan Punjab, on 18 June 1949. He joined the Pakistan Army as a driver on 3 September 1966 at a very young age of 17 years. Despite being a driver, he always yearned to participate in active battle. His wish was fulfilled during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Sowar Muhammad Hussain being the part of Pakistan Army was in the 20th Lancers Armoured regiment, when war broke out in 1971, Sawar Muhammad Hussain took an active part in every battle in which his unit was engaged unmindful of any danger, no matter how grave.

It was on 5 December 1971 that while braving intense shelling and direct fire from enemy tanks and infantry, he went from trench to trench delivering ammunition to the frontline soldiers. It was documented by his company men that on the following day, he went out with four fighting patrols and undertook most hazardous missions. However, on 10 December 1971, he spotted the enemy digging in along a minefield near the village of Harar Khurd along the minefield laid out by Pakistan Army. He immediately informed the second- in-command of his unit of this, but simultaneously on his own initiative he directed accurate fire at the enemy resulting in the destruction of sixteen enemy tanks.

Thus while directing fire from recoilless rifles, he was hit in the chest by a burst of machine-gun fire and embraced martyrdom on 10 December 1971 at the age of 22. Sowar Muhammad Hussain had the distinction of being the first Jawan (a rank of foot-soldier in the Pakistan Army) to be awarded the highest award Nishan-e-Haider.